Chemicals found in nonstick cookware raise cholesterol levels in children

A new study suggests that two chemicals used for nonstick cookware and waterproof fabrics may elevated total and LDL cholesterol levels in children.

A team of researchers led by Stephanie Frisbee of West Virginia University School of Medicine assessed blood lipid levels in 12,476 children and teens aged one to 18 years for the study published in Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association.

The research showed that 1/5 of children and teens with the highest PFOA amounts had total cholesterol levels 4.6 milligrams per decilitre higher and LDL cholesterol levels 3.8 milligrams per decilitre higher than the one-fifth with the lowest PFOA levels. The higher the PFOA levels, the higher were the children at risk of developing high total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The results are especially important because of the potential effects higher cholesterol could have during a child’s lifetime.

Perfluoroalkyl acids like PFOA and PFOS give non-stick pans heat resistance, and also come from the breakdown of compounds used in commercial food packaging and factory treatments for fabrics, carpets and stain-resistant clothing.

In previous research, animal testing had shown that the activity of these chemicals is mainly in the liver, and a previous research of adults with environmental exposure discovered positive connections between PFOA, total cholesterol, and LDL.